‘Collaborative approach needed to realise bringing 2036 Summer Olympics to India’

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who led the brainstorming sessions at two-day ‘Chintan Shivir” which concluded here, emphasised that the discussions should not remain confined within the four walls of a conference room.

Hyderabad: The Sports Ministers of States and the Union Territories and other stake-holders agreed that a collaborative approach was required to realise the dream to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in India and perform better at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who led the brainstorming sessions at two-day ‘Chintan Shivir” which concluded here, emphasised that the discussions should not remain confined within the four walls of a conference room.

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Instead, he urged that they serve as a catalyst for realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, where sports play a pivotal role in nation-building.

The discussion was unanimous in recognising that talent identification and development must begin early for India to secure a top 10 finish at the 2036 Olympics.

To achieve this goal, stakeholders explored the idea of reimagining the National School Games, envisioning it as a structured platform that provides competitive exposure and a clear developmental pathway, starting at the district level.

With 15 lakh schools in India and eight crore students, the possibilities were enormous, felt stakeholders and States could take help of the NSRS and the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme.

The agenda also included boosting the coaching ecosystem and exploring how former athletes can contribute back to sports. It was discussed that there should be a proper standardisation policy and qualification system so the best coaches can be introduced into the system. Welfare of coaches and their holistic skilling were also discussed.

Dr Mandaviya urged states to utilize the Khelo India State Training Centres to train and excel at the global level.

Union Minister of State, Mrs. Raksha Khadse reaffirmed Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya’s call for states to collaborate with the government in building a strong sports ecosystem.

“Our objectives are clear—if we want to excel at the Olympics, we must work together,” she emphasised.

Mrs. Khadse also urged states to adopt and implement each other’s best practices to enhance their sporting frameworks. In response, states reiterated their commitment to mutual learning and collaboration, striving to make India a global sports powerhouse by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence.